Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success

Lisa Schoneville’s journey is a powerful case study in the difference between owning a job and owning a business. From counting out pennies to afford nappies to building two multi-staff companies that operate entirely without her, Lisa’s story is a masterclass in resilience and strategic systemisation.What happens when your "flexible" business starts consuming 60 hours of your week? For serial entrepreneur Lisa Schoneville, it was the catalyst for a radical change in strategy. In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector talks with the founder of a thriving cleaning company and a specialised property management firm—both of which now operate with only 5% of her direct involvement.Lisa shares her raw and inspiring journey, from leaving a secure bank management career to counting out £7 in copper jars just to buy nappies. We dive into the importance of "straight-talk" from your accountant, why she pays her staff above minimum wage, and the unique employee benefits (like 24/7 counselling) that have supercharged her team's loyalty.Key Takeaways:The Entrepreneurial Shift: How to move from being a "busy fool" to building an income that doesn't rely on you.Staff as Assets: Why valuing staff with better pay and mental health support leads to higher retention and growth .The Power of "Yes": Jumping into opportunities (like serviced apartments) even when you don’t yet know the "how" .The Freedom of Choice: Why money isn't just about wealth—it's about the ability to choose how you spend your time .

This is a special re-release of the most-listened-to episode of Scale Her Up. Katie Watson’s story of transformation—from crippling childhood shyness to leading the BWC Futures group and excelling at the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce—is a masterclass in resilience and authentic career building.How do you go from being too shy to leave your house to hosting major networking events for young professionals? In this special re-release of the Scale HER Up's most popular episode ever, Dr Brenda Hector talks with Katie Watson of the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.Katie shares her journey through a childhood diagnosis of depression at age 12 to becoming the lead for BWC Futures, a group dedicated to supporting women aged 16–25 in their early careers. We discuss the "hunt as the feast," the power of vulnerability in leadership, and why reinventing yourself is sometimes the best career move you can make.Key Takeaways:Reinventing the Self: How Katie used University as a "fresh chance" to move past her history with mental health .BWC Futures: Creating safe, drink-free spaces for young women to connect and grow.The "Why" and the "How": Navigating the critics who question your ambition before they ask for your secrets.Aberdeen’s Future: How the Chamber is helping businesses "fall back in love" with the region.

From war zones in Iraq to the boardrooms of the North Sea energy sector, Diana Muriel’s career is a masterclass in high-stakes communication. In this episode, she shares why she traded her blood-group-stamped vest for a role as a "Family Manager" and corporate consultant, proving that the most powerful tool in any business is the ability to tell a simple, truthful story .🎙️ Episode SummaryDr. Brenda Hector sits down with Diana Muriel, Communications Manager at Serica Energy and former CNN International war correspondent . Diana reveals how she navigated the transition from the frontlines to corporate "Issues Management" at Shell, where she became the "agony aunt" for engineers with buried skeletons . They discuss why CEOs are essentially just engineers who can communicate, the "cruel" reality of the workforce for mothers, and a breathtaking story from a Kabul washhouse that taught Diana the ultimate lesson: to earn trust, you must first display your own vulnerability .📝Show NotesThe Hook: She reported on the collapse of economies and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, Diana Muriel is teaching the energy industry that telling the truth is the only way to scale .Key Topics:The CNN Pivot: Why a 40-year-old war correspondent decided she couldn't go back to Baghdad after becoming a mother.Issues Management: Going into companies to find "skeletons in the cupboard" before the media does .The Engineering Gap: Why technical experts often fail to celebrate the "jeopardy and skill" of their own work .The "Family Manager" Rebrand: Why being "just a mom" is a professional scandal we need to fix.The Kabul Lesson: A legendary story of trust, vulnerability, and a Marks & Spencer bra in a Taliban-restricted washhouse.Estimated Timestamps:[00:01:30] Trading CNN war assignments for a derelict farmhouse in Scotland .[00:04:00] Becoming the "Agony Aunt" of Shell: The world of corporate comms.[00:09:00] Why engineers struggle with storytelling and CEOs excel at it .[00:15:30] The hard lesson of client management vs. running a news bureau .[00:22:30] The "Comms Break": Navigating quiet spells and the return to employment.[00:27:00] Retiring ageism and the importance of the "Family Manager".[00:33:00] The Power of Vulnerability: An incredible story from Kabul

From a registered general nurse to the owner of three thriving skin clinics in North Kent, Emma Coleman is a testament to the power of the "side hustle" and the importance of clinical expertise in the beauty industry. In this episode, she gets honest about the "busy fool" stage of her early business, the reality of bootstrapping, and why she records her first podcast from a store cupboard.🎙️ Episode SummaryDr. Brenda Hector sits down with Emma Coleman, founder of Emma Coleman Skin, to discuss her transition from 20 years in the NHS to scaling a multi-clinic brand. Emma reveals how she managed three jobs and three small children while starting a clinic in her own home to save costs . They dive into the complexities of scaling through acquisition, the emotional connection people have with their skin, and why "done is better than perfect" is the only way to launch. This is an episode for anyone who needs a reminder that the path to success is rarely glamorous but always worthwhile.The Hook: What do nursing on a hospital ward and running a business have in common? More than you think. Emma Coleman shares how she swapped the NHS for a skin clinic chain.Key Topics:The Clinical Edge: Transitioning from an RGN in the NHS to a specialized dermatology nurse in private practice .The "Busy Fool" Stage: Managing three income streams and school runs while building a business foundation .Bootstrapping & Acquisition: The challenges of taking over an existing beauty salon and turning it into a medical-grade clinic.Team & Culture: Moving from a solo founder to a team of 10 and the "nerve-wracking" reality of recruitment.Founder Advice: Why perfection is the enemy of progress and the power of daily manifestation.Estimated Timestamps:[00:01:00] Intro to Emma Coleman Skin: From facials to minor surgery.[00:03:00] Leaving the NHS: The 2015 decision to go "all in".[00:08:40] Scaling through acquisition: Inheriting staff and changing culture.[00:11:40] The Money Talk: Cash flow, bootstrapping, and daily monitoring.[00:16:10] The confidence of skin: Treating acne and boosting self-esteem.[00:22:20] "Done is better than perfect": Advice for the next generation of founders.[00:33:30] Real Talk: Recording from the store cupboard

In this episode of Scale Her Up, Dr. Brenda Hector talks with Sonia Schulenberg, CEO and founder of Level E Research. Sonia shares her journey from Mexico City to the University of Edinburgh, where she pioneered the use of autonomous AI agents in asset management. She breaks down why traditional AI fails in the "non-stationary" world of finance and how she built a digital twin of the global market to outperform multibillion-dollar funds . Beyond the tech, Sonia reveals the staggering level of commitment required to scale, including a legendary story of closing an investment round and paying salaries while in active labor .The Hook: She was told her vision for AI in finance was a "trip to the moon." Sonia Schulenberg didn't just build the rocket; she’s now navigating the entire asset management industry toward a new frontier.Key Topics:The Problem with Traditional AI: Why financial markets act like a "shifting giraffe" and require a unique continuous learning approach .The Operative System for Finance: How Level E Research provides a B2B SaaS platform that automates everything from decision-making to compliance.The Cost Crisis: Why active fund managers are underperforming and how AI can save the "eroding value" of our pensions.Explainable AI: Why AI is "nothing" if it cannot explain its own behaviours to regulators and stakeholders.Unstoppable Resilience: The reality of 100-hour work weeks and the drive to deliver "smarter, faster, and cheaper" solutions.Estimated Timestamps:[00:01:00] Early career at Citi and the proposal that started it all.[00:06:00] Moving to Edinburgh: Choosing machine learning over an MBA.[00:10:00] Developing the first fully autonomous fund in the world.[00:17:00] Winning the Aberdeen Asset Managers & FinTech Scotland competition.[00:27:00] Overcoming the "fear" that AI will replace humans.[00:37:00] The Tuesday Deadline: Why Sonia fired 12 lawyers to get results.[00:39:00] The Birth Story: Fundraising, labor, and a Friday deadline for salaries.